Cherokee Nation earns top financial reporting award

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - The Cherokee Nation recently received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA). This marks the 22nd year that Cherokee Nation has been awarded by GFOA.

The Certificate of Achievement award was established in 1945 to encourage state and local governments to prepare annual financial reports with complete transparency. It is the highest honor given in governmental accounting and financial reporting.

"We are honored to be recognized for the truly exceptional financial reporting by our financial resources department," said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. "For over two decades our financial team has been recognized with this award for going above and beyond in maintaining transparency and accuracy. This is critical to the Cherokee people and I'm proud of our dedication to being responsible stewards of Cherokee Nation finances."

To earn this reward, the Cherokee Nation's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the 2023 fiscal year was judged by an impartial panel, which determined the report demonstrated full disclosure and clearly communicated its financial story.

"The Cherokee Nation office of financial resources strives to operate with the maximum amount of transparency," said Cherokee Nation Treasurer Janees Taylor. "It is important that we present our financial position in a way that provides Cherokee citizens, leadership, the public and potential granting agencies with an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report that shows the financial strength of Cherokee Nation. Year after year, Cherokee Nation has administered all its funding utilizing the utmost care to meet program objectives within the requirements of the funding source. To be recognized yet again for our reporting standards is a testament to our commitment."

The Government Finance Officers Association was founded in 1906 and represents more than 21,000 members that are federal, state and local finance officials. The association's mission is to advance excellence in public finance.

The Cherokee Nation Constitution requires an annual audit of the financial statements by a Certified Public Accountant be completed and presented to the Council of the Cherokee Nation within six months following the end of each fiscal year. The Cherokee Nation has received clean, unmodified audit opinions every year for 22 years.